Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-09
Varieties Of Soils Oh Puget Sound.
Whatcom Revcille.

region Is the ulVcrSlhcu character OF
the soil, it frequently happening that
on quarter section of land you will
find almost as many and diverse kinds
of soil as there are parti-colored squares
in patch work quilt. These different
soils may be properly classified and
distinguished, the one from the other,
according to their several peculiarities
as follows:
First-Thc sandy loan on the river
bottom lands, proper. This soil is
quick, warm and finely and generally
well adapted to the production of
grasses, grains, fruits, vegetables, to-
'bacco and hops.
SecOnd-We have the clay loam,
which occupies considerable areas in
certain localities, notably on the north
ern border of the marsh prairie to the
north of Lynden, in Whatcom county.
This is strong soil, wearing well and
possibly adapted to as wide range of
productions, only somewhat inferior
to the sandy loan in natural warmth
and in average producing qualities.
In the estimation of some, however,
and for what they conceive to be good
reasons, it is thought to be superior to
the former.
Third-We have the red lands which
are generally found covered with a
growth OF fir, sometimes heavy, and
which by the actual experiment OF
raising variety of crop has been DEM
Onstrated to be, in cOntradistinction to
such lands in other localities, not only
immensely productive but with wide
and as yet not fully determined range
of adaptation to diversity of products.
1t combines in itself, and in its power
to produce, fertility, durability and di-
versity.
A fourth variety of soil, claimed by
some to be not only the most fertile,
but the most perfectly adapted to the
| widest range of products, cereals, fruits,
vegetables, grasses, hops, tobacco, etc,
is the beaver dam land, as it is popu-
larly called This seems to be COM
pOsite of the different soils which the
ingenious and industrious beaver in
constructing their numerous and ex-
tensive dams in our marshes and
across our streams, have dug up and
mixed together in at least compara
lively proportioned quantities. These
lands in places comprise areas of hun
dreds of acres. Warmth, fertility,
durability and diversity indicate the
chief characteristics of this choice and
unique variety of soil.
Whatever may be either the relative
or actual value of the beaver dam
lands, rs compared with other soils,
certain it is that they are by universal
consent conceded to be superior in
every respect to all other lands, prob
ably on the philosophical principle
that the whole is equal to all its parts
and consequently greater than or SUI
perior to any individual part. The
landseeker and buyer will certainly
i, not 60 amiss in investing his money
in as much of this land as he may be
able to buy.
A fifth, and last, variety of soil in
the order named, but now however, in
the opinion of its admirers and cham
pions, is the peat lands, SO called from
the fact that it is almost if not quite
in appearance and in combustible quail
tiles, a facsimile of the peat lands of
Europe, and is in fact what its name
implies, composed of decayed vege-
table matter which for countless centu.
ries has been building from successive
deposits as the numerous forms Of
vegetation have sprung up, died and
decayed passing through the various
stages from purely vegetable matter to
soil. Thorough drainage and careful
cultivation have not as yet satisfactor-
lily demonstrated the actual value of
this soil as to fertility, durability or
diversity; still, it is the candid and
unbiased opinion of the most intelli-
gent men and observers in the COM
munity that the peat land will not
suffer by comparison with any of the
soils named i'll the foregoing article,
and is vastly superior to some of them.
1t is the general opinion, amply con-
tirmed by experience up to date, that
these lands are especially adapted to
grasses, and that consequently the
marsh prairie or peat lands to the
northward of Lynden, owing to this
fact as well as the largely open charac
ter of the land and the ease with
which the remainder may be cleared,
is distined to be par excellence of the
great stock region Of Puget Sound
and Whatcom county.
A feature of special significance and
satisfaction in regard to these various
soils is that each individual may take
his choice, and while one, for what he
thinks substantial reasons, may choose
the sandy loan of the river bottoms !;
another the clay or the red lands, and
still another the beaver dam or the
peat, it is all utilized and every one is
abundantly satisfied. Upon and out
OF these marvellous fertile soils, as a
solid and enduring material basis, is
destined to be built up a civil COM
monwealth, a society and civilization